January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Hurdle: Don't underestimate Social Club
Hurdle believes the league champions have not been given enough respect for their title win.
And he accused the so-called big clubs of underestimating Social Club because they had few 'brand name' players.
"I love it when teams underestimate us because we get the chance to shut their mouths.
"If we win BELCO Cup it sends a message. These are the elite four teams on the island and if we come out on top, they should start to recognize us."
Despite winning the league last season Social Club are rarely spoken of in the same breath as the likes of Southampton Rangers and St. David's.
Hurdle added: "People don't respect my team. We don't have any name brand players - people only recognize me and Charlie (Marshall) as the main two.
"They don't look at the other guys. With Kani Darrell, Jeffrey Tyrell and Dennis Pilgrim we have one of the best bowling attacks in the league and we have guys who can come in at nine or ten and score 60 or 70. We bat deeper than anyone in the league.
"Clay Smith said at the start of the season that Social Club were a relegation team.
"How do we go from being champions to a relegation team just by losing one player (Glenn Blakeney) who only played about five matches? I hope they all continue to underestimate us and we'll take advantage of that."
Social Club kick-off the BELCO Cup against Southampton Rangers at St. David's on Saturday with Hurdle keen for revenge.
"They beat us in the final last season and they already had a controversial win over us in the league. They've been a real thorn in our side."
Rangers skipper Janeiro Tucker, who scored a century in the semis and 99 in the final to lead his team to a third straight BELCO Cup victory last year, was equally focused.
"We've got to get our heads down and deal with Saturday's game before we think about the final," said Tucker, who feels his team have proved a few people wrong with their performances this year.
Rangers lost spinner Dwayne 'Sluggo' Leverock and fast bowler Traddie Simpson in the off-season transfer shake-up and some predicted that they would struggle.
But they've won three out of three games in the league and are looking stronger than ever.
"I was not too concerned about those guys leaving. The players that have come in have adapted well. "I think the players like being put in that underdog category right now. It ain't no biggie to us."
St. David's skipper Lionel Cann was looking forward to renewing rivalries with St. George's in the other semi-final.
The Islander's skittled St. George's for 28 in last month's league game and then beat them in less than four overs.
But Cann said they were taking nothing for granted,
"We are quietly confident but it's a different team so you never know. They are going to have a point to prove.
"When it comes to BELCO Cup sides like St George's and Rangers, they practically own that competition.
"We think if we play our best we can break that stranglehold, but we can't underestimate the opposition."[[In-content Ad]]
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